Dannevirke clinic: Hearing problems best caught early

Meenakshi Gopinath, with MidCentral District Health Board, Dannevirke's Anne Greatbatch, Renuka Fonsekq, audiologist team leader MidCentral and ENT specialist Hans Stegehuis.

About a third of people aged 65 years and older are affected by a significant hearing loss and early identification and intervention is vital, ENT specialist Hans Stegehuis says.

Stegehuis, Meenakshi Gopinath, an audiologist with MidCentral District Health Board and Renuka Fonsekq, audiology team leader MidCentral, conduct clinics at the Dannevirke Community Hospital once a month, with the audiologist conducting hearing tests.
Hearing loss can affect all aspects of life, including impacting on work options and careers, Stegehuis said.

And a report on hearing loss has said poor social engagement is likely to contribute to impaired cognitive and physical functioning, with profound consequences on the quality of life and mental and physical health of family members and caregivers.

At the other end of the spectrum, Fonsekq said early neo-natal screening was vital.

"Hearing loss not only affects children's speech, but their social development," she told the Dannevirke News.

This is Hearing Awareness Week and today is World Hearing Day aimed at raising awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss and promote ear and hearing care.

Having a neo-natal screening programme while babies are still in hospital is the best option, Fonsekq said.

"It's a simple, non-harmful test and if there is a problem, then the babies can be referred to us," she said.

"Our goal is to try to catch babies for screening while they are still in hospital, but it's a challenge trying to make parents and communities aware of the importance of hearing screening."

Before this screening programme was introduced, a child could be aged 3 before the problem was caught and this is too late.

"If parents say they are a bit worried about their child's hearing, I take their concerns seriously," Stegehuis said.

And there can be a pre-genetic disposition to hearing loss.

"I see people with a pattern of hearing loss which isn't limited to their work environment," Stegehuis said.

"It's excellent to get people to learn strategies for hearing loss and for them to know where to go for help."

There are different degrees of hearing loss and Dannevirke's Anne Greatbatch, a hearing therapist with Life Unlimited Hearing, said it's always an good option for people to ask or express their concerns over possible hearing loss.

"Often people with hearing loss have a reluctance to engage with technology," she said.

"If people aren't ready for a hearing aid, if they don't want one at this time and aren't going to use it, there are communicative strategies and other technology available to buffer the hearing challenges they are beginning to experience.

"Of course these strategies help those who wear hearing aids as well."

However Fonsekq said people who take ownership of hearing aids are so much better off, but she acknowledges it takes time to accept hearing loss and using a hearing aid.

"It's very different from putting on a pair of glasses," Stegehuis said. "People need to persist with a hearing aid."

* For a free hearing check at the LIFE Unlimited Dannevirke clinic ring 0800 008011.